How to Dye Your Hair at Home

A trip to the hair salon can be quite expensive and time consuming.

In today's economy, coloring your hair at home can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars a year depending on the hair salon. Coloring kits can be purchased at any pharmacy or grocery store for as cheap as $7.99.

These directions are best followed if your wish to color your hair one shade darker or lighter than your natural hair color. They also work best for coloring your hair to cover grays.

The following Prezi presentation shows easy do-it-yourself directions to coloring your own hair in the comfort of your home.

Photo credits:
Realbeauty.com
facialhair.biz

How to Dye Your Hair at Home on Prezi

Prezi Presentation - Bobby Sands and the Making of "Hunger"

The following Prezi presentation is about Bobby Sands, Irish Republican Army member and leader of the 1981 hunger strike in northern Ireland.

There are two or three pictures of Bobby Sands available for public viewing. However, I found this story to be an important part of Irish and British history and a compelling subject matter.

In this presentation you will also find some images and video from the 2008 feature film "Hunger" directed by British visual artist Steve McQueen.

Bobby Sands and the Making of "Hunger" on Prezi

Photo credits:
All Movie Portal
Stair na hEireann - Irish news, media & history

Text/Story web credits:
http://www.irishhungerstrike.com/
WikipediaYouTube

Are We Safer Since the Killing of bin Laden?

According to the last post regarding Americans’ feelings on the death of bin Laden, most feel “relieved" and "proud". However, are we safer now from terrorist attacks than before? What does bin Laden's death mean for Americans?

 

Sebastian Gorka, director of the National Security Fellows Program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, states in a story for the Washington Times that while terrorism cannot be defeated, it can be suppressed. He notes that since the United States overturned the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, al Qaeda's potential for terrorist attacks have greatly diminished.

According to Gorka, Islamic Jihad's founder al-Zawahiri may become bin Laden's successor. He says that even if al-Zawahiri does become al Qaeda's new leader, the organization will not have the same power as it did in the past, when the group was state sponsored by Sudan in 1993 and supported by the Taliban in 2001.

Joseph Wippl, a 30-year old veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, says in an article for BU Today that bin Laden's death, "has to have a negative effect on the morale of terrorism." However, he warns that al-Zawahiri and Mullah Muhammed Omar, leader of Afghanistan's Taliban, will be the next terrorist leaders. He says that they will be sought after and captured. BU Today quoted Wippl as saying, "I think in that sense, this is a positive thing."

Andrew Bacevich, former Army colonel, West Point graduate and CAS international relations professor, concedes that bin Laden’s death is of minimal significance. BU today reports that Bacevich believes anti-American feelings in the Islamic world existed long before bin Laden. Although Bacevich states that it's uncertain if countries with recent freedom uprisings in the Middle East against al-Qaeda will rebuild their governments, he states that “al-Qaeda is losing, and may already have lost, the battle for the hearts and minds of the people in that part of the world.”

According to a live Q&A in the 'Conversations' section of the Washington Post online, Juan Zarate, Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is certain that al-Zawahiri will now be in control of al-Qaeda. However, Zarate believes that "Zawahiri lacks the charisma and recognized likeability and mythology of UBL for the broader Sunni extremist movement." On the other hand, he admits that there is a band of devoted al Qaeda leaders and supporters who intend to attack the US and its allies. He says, "Though al Qaeda will suffer with the loss of Osama bin Laden, this does not mean the group and its membership no longer present a danger." 

Zarate also answers the question on whether the U.S. government is taking extra measures to ensure American safety. "The U.S. government has already begun to take precautionary steps to ensure our defenses are up against possible reprisals.  The State Department has issued warnings to American travelers, it has increased our security posture at Embassies and consulates around the world," says Zarate, "the homeland security and counter-terrorism communities are scouring for any information pointing to an attack."

Matthew Dorn, Training Coordinator for Nuclear Fleet Security, works with nuclear sites in helping them prepare for any contingency events. He acknowledges the potential threat to nuclear power plants since the killing of bin Laden. "I think we need to be more vigilant that before. Considering the effect the Tsunami had on Japan's power plant," says Dorn, "I think we are a bigger target now than ever before after witnessing what the potential effects of a failed nuclear plant are." 

Gerald Mocello, former Army colonel and Director of Nuclear Fleet Security for Next Era Energy, considers U.S. Safety after the death of bin Laden to be debatable. "It's kind of hard to say if we're more safe or not. We shouldn't feel that al-Qaeda and terrorism are not longer a problem for us. I would be very naive to think that." Mocello says, "Certainly, you have maintain your vigilance. It's arguable weather we're more or less safe only because some would say we're safer since there is presumably no central organization to the al-Qaeda movement, but that is presumed. What we shouldn't do is assume we can now relax. We need to maintain a level of vigilance and effort now more than ever for a window of time until we see how this situation will play out."

Mocello also answered the question of how do the potential terror threats after the killing of bin Laden affect the Nuclear Security Organization. He says, "The measures that we take to protect the health and safety of the public and employees by protecting the equipment were never hinged on Osama bin Laden. They are hinged upon the nature of potential threats that could be there, which he was a part of, but only as an element. We look at overall threats and risks associated with what we do and we would maintain the level of protection that would be commensurate with that. What we do is not linked to one threat, one person, one organization. I don't see that this particular event with bin Laden in and of it self impacts the nature of our responsibility."

Cannes Film Festival

The 64th Cannes Film Festival began on May 11th and ends on May 22nd.  According to a Reuters story covering the event on opening night, Woody Allen's film Midnight in Paris was received with "laughter" and "applause" by Cannes critics at the press screening.

Image by Google Images

Robert Turan reports in a story for the LA Times that the most talked about films of this year's festival are Midnight in Paris, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Footnote, Boy With A Bike, The Tree of Life, This Must Be the Place and Drive.

Tilda Swinton stars in We Need to Talk About Kevin - Image by Google Images

In a story by Entertainment Weekly's Inside Movies, the film We Need to Talk About Kevin stirred the audience with its shocking subject matter. Actress Tilda Swinton plays a mother whose son is the culprit of a school's mass murder. The guilt-ridden mother struggles to cope with the aftermath of the horrific event.

The festival will end with an awards ceremony on Sunday, May 22nd.

The link to the Google Reader page at the bottom of this article compiles RSS feeds from the following media:

• Guardian.co.UK Cannes Live Blog
• Telegraph.co.UK Cannes Film Festival
• Cannes Festival website
• Twitter advanced search "Cannes"
• Google Alerts "Cannes" "as it happens"

Google Reader "Cannes Film Festival"

Most Americans Feel "Relieved" and "Proud" of bin Laden's Killing

Although there has been recent controversy from international organizations regarding the legality of Osama bin Laden’s killing by U.S. Navy SEALs, most Americans feel “happy” and “proud” that US forces accomplished the murder operation in retaliation to bin Laden and Al Qaeda’a September 11 attacks.

These findings come from an overnight survey of 654 adults, gathered and organized by the Pew Research Center for the People and The Washington Post regarding feelings on the death of Osama bin Laden.

72% of those surveyed expressed feeling “relieved”, 60% said the feel “proud” and 58% claimed they feel “happy”. A much smaller percentage of 16% said they feel “afraid”.

But for others, like Cheryl Desmais of Millburn, NJ, whose husband died in the September 11 attacks, the feeling is more bittersweet.

When asked by Verona-Cedar Grove Patch news about bin Laden's death, Desmais responded, "You know I'm not sure what the right word is. 'Happy' is a funny word to use. But this is the man responsible for my husband's death. This needed to be done. They needed to capture him or kill him and I'm glad they have. I think it's a huge blow to terrorism."

Was the Murder of Osama bin Laden Legal?

Image by Google Images

When the Obama administration first reported Osama bin Laden's killing, the White House documented Osama's resistance. It was later confirmed that bin Laden was unarmed at the time of the raid. 

This fact stirred controversy among several lawyers, academics and human rights groups, who have since questioned the legality of bin Laden's murder by Navy SEALs in Pakistan.

According to this CBS News story, White Press Secretary Jay Carney said, "resistance does not require a firearm," when asked if bin Laden was armed when they raided the compound. After being pressed by reporters on the issue, Carney claimed that the raid "met with a great deal of resistance" and that many people in the compound had weapons.

Attorney General Eric Holder shares a similar sentiment. In a story by Pete Williams, correspondent for NBC News, Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the bin Laden murder operation was lawful. 


Holder is quoted saying, "He was the head of al-Qaida, an organization that had conducted the attacks of September 11th. He admitted his involvement and he indicated that he would not be taken alive. The operation against bin Laden was justified as an act of national self defense."

An International Business Times article states that according to Holder, even if bin Laden did surrender, U.S. armed forces were justified to kill bin Laden "in order to protect themselves and the other people who were in that building," including several women and children who survived the raid unharmed.

Some International Law experts disagree. 

According to The Guardian's article, "Osama bin Laden: US responds to questions about killing's legality," Kent University professor Nick Grief says the bin Laden's compound attack appeared to be an "extrajudicial killing without due process of the law." 

In this story, lawyer Michael Mansfield expressed that "vengeance will become synonymized with justice, and that revenge will supplant 'due process."


He argued that raid events should be properly documented and verified. He also warned to not allow revenge or murder execution to replace justice.

The Guardian also mentions Claudio Cordone, senior director at Amnesty International, who argues the death of bin Laden will "put an end in his role in organizing or inspiring such criminal acts." 


However, Cordone suggests the cooperation of US and Pakistani governments for "greater clarification about the events that led to the death of Osama bin Laden."

Some feel like the United States has taken unethical liberties to killing a dangerous although unarmed and/or surrendered terrorist. How could they explain justice and ethics to the thousands of victims' families from September 11th?

On what basis should justice and fairness be determined?

Does the Royal Wedding Have America's Attention?

Image by Mirror.co.uk

"Oh, Prince William of Wales? Isn't the bride-to-be a commoner?," says my 11-year old niece to my surprise when I asked her if she had heard anything about "a prince" and a royal wedding.

 The media has had a long fascination with royal weddings. Especially when Kate Middleton,  a middle class young woman is marrying Prince William of Wales, son of Prince Charles and the late beloved Princess Diana.

Over 750 million tuned in to watch Princess Diana and Prince Charles take their royal vows 30 years ago.  After their divorce in 1996 and Diana's tragic death in a car accident in 1997, the upcoming wedding marks a new beginning for Britain's Monarchy.

Although the United States is not a British Monarchy, America loves a good fairytale. The evidence is in the daily coverage on every major newspaper and magazine in the country. The wedding of a handsome prince and a stylish and graceful commoner, who will become the new princess is enough reason for excitement for some in its anticipation.

However, according to one survey by PriceGrabber, 77 percent of consumers do not plan to get up extra early on April 29th to witness the live royal vows. 72 percent of these responders, do not plan to watch it after it is aired either.

The sample of those that do plan to watch the ceremony cite different reasons. 25 percent will watch for its historical significance, 12 percent for the memory and six percent for the media hype.

According to this article, older people are more interested than younger people and more women are interested in the royal wedding than men. The same could very well be true in the U.S.

Some people going through real life difficulties may have a hard time embracing the romance and fantasy. Sylvia Rojas, 34, from Orlando FL is definitely not enthused about the impending ceremony. "I'm sure she'll be happily ever after. Get married, get divorced and THEN live happily ever after." says Rojas who is currently undergoing divorce proceedings.

Another Orlando native, Stacy Lee, 38, is thrilled. "I'm fascinated by royalty. I love Kate Middleton. Prince William is so handsome. It's such a girl's dream."

Some consider the Monarchy's royalty old fashioned and irrelevant to today's culture, especially for younger generations.

Regardless, for many Americans and others around the world, the pomp, glamour and romantic splendor of this ceremony is enough to tune in. How many actually do, is left to be seen.